"Fatal error" message - can;t save edited files

Right now I am trying to move my files from /shop to the main index. In order to do this, I have to edit both configure.php files. I tried editing them, but everytime I click the "Save Changes" button after editing the files the page reloads to say

"File Saved
[a fatal error or timeout occurred while processing this directive]
Your file /home/bigezwi/public_html/includes/configure.php has been saved. "

However, I;ll check back on the files after and they'll actually be unedited, despite tjhe claim that the file was saved! Why doesn;'t the admin let me edit these files?

Thanks,
Dave

Are you trying to edit your configure.php files using your file manager (server side)?

If so, this is not recommended.

You should edit these 2 files locally using a good editor.

Then set permissions to 644, upload the files to their appropriate locations on the server and then set permissions back to 444.

Thanks, Frank. This worked for redirecting zen cart to my homepage, but I then i was seeing was a blank page when I tried to access the admin page.

I looked in the admin configure file and found that I accidentally copied the other configure file. I copied dist-configure from the admin and renamed it configure.php, and now all I get is the "Hello. Thank you for loading Zen Cart™.You are seeing this page for one or more reasons:" notice .

can anyone help me with this? you can view my admin page at https://www.bigeasyincense.com/admin

thanks,
Dave

Compare the files:
/includes/configure.php
/admin/includes/configure.php

It looks like you are missing the:
/admin/includes/configure.php

or that it is configured incorrectly ...

Or, you have renamed your /admin to another name and loaded another /admin directory to your site ...

You see:

"File Saved
[a fatal error or timeout occurred while processing this directive]
Your file /home/bigezwi/public_html/includes/configure.php has been saved. " because you need to choose at least 644 permission for the file. You can do it from your hosting CPanel - when you update the permissions click on "Edit". When you finish don't forget to return the file to 444.

http://www.bigeasyincense.com/admin/ - you see that page because your admin/includes/configure.php file has incorrect information. Update the path, save the file and check again.

Ajeh:

Compare the files:
/includes/configure.php
/admin/includes/configure.php

Are the two configure files identical?

The paths must be wrong. I don't understand why though. I am putting in three paths, "/" (for home) "/admin/", and "/home/bigezwi/public_html/cache" for the SQL cache, all of which seem to be the correct locations...

I just ran the Fix Cache Key to see if it could be a problem with the cache. There wasn't. All of the paths are right, too.

The two files are not identical ...

If you want to post your files, from the server, without your username, password or /admin directory name (assuming you have changed that to another directory) we can look to see if there are any errors ...

Sure enough. Here's the admin config:

<?php
/**
 * dist-configure.php
 *
 * @package Configuration Settings
 * @package Admin
 * @copyright Copyright 2003-2007 Zen Cart Development Team
 * @copyright Portions Copyright 2003 osCommerce
 * @license http://www.zen-cart.com/license/2_0.txt GNU Public License V2.0
 * @version $Id: dist-configure.php 6329 2007-05-16 15:36:56Z drbyte $
 * @private
 */

// Define the webserver and path parameters
// HTTP_SERVER is your Main webserver: eg-http://www.yourdomain.com
// HTTPS_SERVER is your Secure webserver: eg-https://www.yourdomain.com
// HTTP_CATALOG_SERVER is your Main webserver: eg-http://www.yourdomain.com
// HTTPS_CATALOG_SERVER is your Secure webserver: eg-https://www.yourdomain.com
/* 
 * URL's for your site will be built via:  
 *     HTTP_SERVER plus DIR_WS_ADMIN or
 *     HTTPS_SERVER plus DIR_WS_HTTPS_ADMIN or 
 *     HTTP_SERVER plus DIR_WS_CATALOG or 
 *     HTTPS_SERVER plus DIR_WS_HTTPS_CATALOG
 * ...depending on your system configuration settings
 *
 * If you desire your *entire* admin to be SSL-protected, make sure you use a "https:" URL for all 4 of the following:
 */
  define('HTTP_SERVER', 'http://localhost');
  define('HTTPS_SERVER', 'https://localhost');
  define('HTTP_CATALOG_SERVER', 'http://localhost');
  define('HTTPS_CATALOG_SERVER', 'https://localhost');

  // secure webserver for catalog module and/or admin areas?
  define('ENABLE_SSL_CATALOG', 'false');
  define('ENABLE_SSL_ADMIN', 'false');

// NOTE: be sure to leave the trailing '/' at the end of these lines if you make changes!

// * DIR_WS_* = Webserver directories (virtual/URL)
  // these paths are relative to top of your webspace ... (ie: under the public_html or httpdocs folder)
  define('DIR_WS_ADMIN', '/admin/');
  define('DIR_WS_CATALOG', '/');
  define('DIR_WS_HTTPS_ADMIN', '/admin/');
  define('DIR_WS_HTTPS_CATALOG', '/');

  define('DIR_WS_IMAGES', 'images/');
  define('DIR_WS_ICONS', DIR_WS_IMAGES . 'icons/');
  define('DIR_WS_CATALOG_IMAGES', HTTP_CATALOG_SERVER . DIR_WS_CATALOG . 'images/');
  define('DIR_WS_CATALOG_TEMPLATE', HTTP_CATALOG_SERVER . DIR_WS_CATALOG . 'includes/templates/');
  define('DIR_WS_INCLUDES', 'includes/');
  define('DIR_WS_BOXES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'boxes/');
  define('DIR_WS_FUNCTIONS', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'functions/');
  define('DIR_WS_CLASSES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'classes/');
  define('DIR_WS_MODULES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'modules/');
  define('DIR_WS_LANGUAGES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'languages/');
  define('DIR_WS_CATALOG_LANGUAGES', HTTP_CATALOG_SERVER . DIR_WS_CATALOG . 'includes/languages/');

// * DIR_FS_* = Filesystem directories (local/physical)
  //the following path is a COMPLETE path to your Zen Cart files. eg: /var/www/vhost/accountname/public_html/store/
  define('DIR_FS_ADMIN', '/admin/');
  define('DIR_FS_CATALOG', '/');

  define('DIR_FS_CATALOG_LANGUAGES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'includes/languages/');
  define('DIR_FS_CATALOG_IMAGES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'images/');
  define('DIR_FS_CATALOG_MODULES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'includes/modules/');
  define('DIR_FS_CATALOG_TEMPLATES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'includes/templates/');
  define('DIR_FS_BACKUP', DIR_FS_ADMIN . 'backups/');
  define('DIR_FS_EMAIL_TEMPLATES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'email/');
  define('DIR_FS_DOWNLOAD', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'download/');

// define our database connection
  define('DB_TYPE', 'mysql');
  define('DB_PREFIX', 'zen_');
  define('DB_SERVER', 'localhost'); 
  define('DB_SERVER_USERNAME', 'root');
  define('DB_SERVER_PASSWORD', '');
  define('DB_DATABASE', '');
  define('USE_PCONNECT', 'false');
  define('STORE_SESSIONS', 'db'); 
  // use 'db' for best support, or '' for file-based storage

  // The next 2 "defines" are for SQL cache support.
  // For SQL_CACHE_METHOD, you can select from:  none, database, or file
  // If you choose "file", then you need to set the DIR_FS_SQL_CACHE to a directory where your apache 
  // or webserver user has write privileges (chmod 666 or 777). We recommend using the "cache" folder inside the Zen Cart folder
  // ie: /path/to/your/webspace/public_html/zen/cache   -- leave no trailing slash 
  define('SQL_CACHE_METHOD', 'none');
  define('DIR_FS_SQL_CACHE', '/home/bigezwi/public_html/cache');
?>

I also just changed the admin folder name. Now I am seeing
*
0 DB_ERROR_NOT_CONNECTED
in:
[select * from zen_project_version WHERE project_version_key = 'Zen-Cart Database' ]
If you were entering information, press the BACK button in your browser and re-check the information you had entered to be sure you left no blank fields.*

Compare that to the file on the server for:
/includes/configure.php

while different, it should help you fill in the proper information for the file, on the server, for:
/admin/includes/configure.php

I can't find any differences between these files.

Here is config

<?php
/**
 * @package Configuration Settings circa 1.3.9
 * @copyright Copyright 2003-2009 Zen Cart Development Team
 * @copyright Portions Copyright 2003 osCommerce
 * @license http://www.zen-cart.com/license/2_0.txt GNU Public License V2.0
 * File Built by zc_install on 2010-05-14 06:40:53
 */


/*************** NOTE: This file is similar, but DIFFERENT from the "admin" version of configure.php. ***********/
/***************       The 2 files should be kept separate and not used to overwrite each other.      ***********/

// Define the webserver and path parameters
  // HTTP_SERVER is your Main webserver: eg-http://www.your_domain.com
  // HTTPS_SERVER is your Secure webserver: eg-https://www.your_domain.com
  define('HTTP_SERVER', 'http://bigeasyincense.com');
  define('HTTPS_SERVER', 'https://bigeasyincense.com');

  // Use secure webserver for checkout procedure?
  define('ENABLE_SSL', 'false');

// NOTE: be sure to leave the trailing '/' at the end of these lines if you make changes!
// * DIR_WS_* = Webserver directories (virtual/URL)
  // these paths are relative to top of your webspace ... (ie: under the public_html or httpdocs folder)
  define('DIR_WS_CATALOG', '/');
  define('DIR_WS_HTTPS_CATALOG', '/');

  define('DIR_WS_IMAGES', 'images/');
  define('DIR_WS_INCLUDES', 'includes/');
  define('DIR_WS_FUNCTIONS', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'functions/');
  define('DIR_WS_CLASSES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'classes/');
  define('DIR_WS_MODULES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'modules/');
  define('DIR_WS_LANGUAGES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'languages/');
  define('DIR_WS_DOWNLOAD_PUBLIC', DIR_WS_CATALOG . 'pub/');
  define('DIR_WS_TEMPLATES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'templates/');

  define('DIR_WS_PHPBB', '/');

// * DIR_FS_* = Filesystem directories (local/physical)
  //the following path is a COMPLETE path to your Zen Cart files. eg: /var/www/vhost/accountname/public_html/store/
  define('DIR_FS_CATALOG', '/home/bigezwi/public_html/');

  define('DIR_FS_DOWNLOAD', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'download/');
  define('DIR_FS_DOWNLOAD_PUBLIC', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'pub/');
  define('DIR_WS_UPLOADS', DIR_WS_IMAGES . 'uploads/');
  define('DIR_FS_UPLOADS', DIR_FS_CATALOG . DIR_WS_UPLOADS);
  define('DIR_FS_EMAIL_TEMPLATES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'email/');

// define our database connection
  define('DB_TYPE', 'mysql');
  define('DB_PREFIX', 'zen_');
  define('DB_SERVER', 'localhost');
  define('DB_SERVER_USERNAME', '');
  define('DB_SERVER_PASSWORD', '');
  define('DB_DATABASE', '');
  define('USE_PCONNECT', 'false');
  define('STORE_SESSIONS', 'db');
  // for STORE_SESSIONS, use 'db' for best support, or '' for file-based storage

  // The next 2 "defines" are for SQL cache support.
  // For SQL_CACHE_METHOD, you can select from:  none, database, or file
  // If you choose "file", then you need to set the DIR_FS_SQL_CACHE to a directory where your apache 
  // or webserver user has write privileges (chmod 666 or 777). We recommend using the "cache" folder inside the Zen Cart folder
  // ie: /path/to/your/webspace/public_html/zen/cache   -- leave no trailing slash  
  define('SQL_CACHE_METHOD', 'none'); 
  define('DIR_FS_SQL_CACHE', '/home/bigezwi/public_html/cache');

// EOF

admin config

<?php
/**
 * dist-configure.php
 *
 * @package Configuration Settings
 * @package Admin
 * @copyright Copyright 2003-2007 Zen Cart Development Team
 * @copyright Portions Copyright 2003 osCommerce
 * @license http://www.zen-cart.com/license/2_0.txt GNU Public License V2.0
 * @version $Id: dist-configure.php 6329 2007-05-16 15:36:56Z drbyte $
 * @private
 */

// Define the webserver and path parameters
// HTTP_SERVER is your Main webserver: eg-http://www.yourdomain.com
// HTTPS_SERVER is your Secure webserver: eg-https://www.yourdomain.com
// HTTP_CATALOG_SERVER is your Main webserver: eg-http://www.yourdomain.com
// HTTPS_CATALOG_SERVER is your Secure webserver: eg-https://www.yourdomain.com
/* 
 * URL's for your site will be built via:  
 *     HTTP_SERVER plus DIR_WS_ADMIN or
 *     HTTPS_SERVER plus DIR_WS_HTTPS_ADMIN or 
 *     HTTP_SERVER plus DIR_WS_CATALOG or 
 *     HTTPS_SERVER plus DIR_WS_HTTPS_CATALOG
 * ...depending on your system configuration settings
 *
 * If you desire your *entire* admin to be SSL-protected, make sure you use a "https:" URL for all 4 of the following:
 */
  define('HTTP_SERVER', 'http://bigeasyincense.com');
  define('HTTPS_SERVER', 'https://bigeasyincense.com');
  define('HTTP_CATALOG_SERVER', 'http://bigeasyincense.com');
  define('HTTPS_CATALOG_SERVER', 'https://bigeasyincense.com');

  // secure webserver for catalog module and/or admin areas?
  define('ENABLE_SSL_CATALOG', 'false');
  define('ENABLE_SSL_ADMIN', 'false');

// NOTE: be sure to leave the trailing '/' at the end of these lines if you make changes!

// * DIR_WS_* = Webserver directories (virtual/URL)
  // these paths are relative to top of your webspace ... (ie: under the public_html or httpdocs folder)
  define('DIR_WS_ADMIN', '/admin/');
  define('DIR_WS_CATALOG', '/');
  define('DIR_WS_HTTPS_ADMIN', '/admin');
  define('DIR_WS_HTTPS_CATALOG', '/');

  define('DIR_WS_IMAGES', 'images/');
  define('DIR_WS_ICONS', DIR_WS_IMAGES . 'icons/');
  define('DIR_WS_CATALOG_IMAGES', HTTP_CATALOG_SERVER . DIR_WS_CATALOG . 'images/');
  define('DIR_WS_CATALOG_TEMPLATE', HTTP_CATALOG_SERVER . DIR_WS_CATALOG . 'includes/templates/');
  define('DIR_WS_INCLUDES', 'includes/');
  define('DIR_WS_BOXES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'boxes/');
  define('DIR_WS_FUNCTIONS', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'functions/');
  define('DIR_WS_CLASSES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'classes/');
  define('DIR_WS_MODULES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'modules/');
  define('DIR_WS_LANGUAGES', DIR_WS_INCLUDES . 'languages/');
  define('DIR_WS_CATALOG_LANGUAGES', HTTP_CATALOG_SERVER . DIR_WS_CATALOG . 'includes/languages/');

// * DIR_FS_* = Filesystem directories (local/physical)
  //the following path is a COMPLETE path to your Zen Cart files. eg: /var/www/vhost/accountname/public_html/store/
  define('DIR_FS_ADMIN', '/home/bigezwi/public_html/admin/');
  define('DIR_FS_CATALOG', '/home/bigezwi/public_html/');

  define('DIR_FS_CATALOG_LANGUAGES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'includes/languages/');
  define('DIR_FS_CATALOG_IMAGES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'images/');
  define('DIR_FS_CATALOG_MODULES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'includes/modules/');
  define('DIR_FS_CATALOG_TEMPLATES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'includes/templates/');
  define('DIR_FS_BACKUP', DIR_FS_ADMIN . 'backups/');
  define('DIR_FS_EMAIL_TEMPLATES', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'email/');
  define('DIR_FS_DOWNLOAD', DIR_FS_CATALOG . 'download/');

// define our database connection
  define('DB_TYPE', 'mysql');
  define('DB_PREFIX', 'zen_');
  define('DB_SERVER', 'localhost'); 
  define('DB_SERVER_USERNAME', 'root');
  define('DB_SERVER_PASSWORD', '');
  define('DB_DATABASE', '');
  define('USE_PCONNECT', 'false');
  define('STORE_SESSIONS', 'db'); 
  // use 'db' for best support, or '' for file-based storage

  // The next 2 "defines" are for SQL cache support.
  // For SQL_CACHE_METHOD, you can select from:  none, database, or file
  // If you choose "file", then you need to set the DIR_FS_SQL_CACHE to a directory where your apache 
  // or webserver user has write privileges (chmod 666 or 777). We recommend using the "cache" folder inside the Zen Cart folder
  // ie: /path/to/your/webspace/public_html/zen/cache   -- leave no trailing slash 
  define('SQL_CACHE_METHOD', 'none');
  define('DIR_FS_SQL_CACHE', '/home/bigezwi/public_html/cache');

?>

keep in mind that /admin/ is not the real name. Thank you very much for your help! I haven't been able to do any admin stuff in 3 days.

Since this is proving to be an issue, should I just move zen cart back to its original directory?

Check the spelling of your new Admin directory and ensure that in the file:
/youradmindir/includes/configure.php

you have replaced all of the the:
/admin/

with your new directory:
/youradmindir/

NOTE: be sure you are checking the file on the server when reviewing your changes ...

Everything is correct. I don't know what else to do. Would it be wise to just reinstall Zen cart so everything will work again? I am very frustrated now and have no idea what to do next.